Here is a 1999-P Pennsylvania State Quarter Boasting A Minor Die Chip Between
The U and E or VIRTUE

If the barrage of inquiries in regard to "minor
errors" on the new Delaware quarter-dollar coins is any indication of whatís
to come, error/variety specialists can expect the blitz to continue unabated for
at least the next ten years as each of the new States commemorative designs is
introduced into circulation. Itís not that there are necessarily anymore
problems than usual (though there may be for some issues), but that collectors
tend to take a closer look at new issues and understandably find more variations
than on the ignored designs.

Iíve been receiving dozens of inquiries on common die
variations that can be found on all coin designs worldwide. Leading the pack is
inquiries on such items as, die cracks, die chips, die scratches, die flow
lines, missing or weak designs due to die abrasion, die deterioration doubling,
and minor clash marks.

Itís interesting that the majority of inquiries refer to
these variations as "errors" but the fact is all of these items are
inherent to normal die fatigue or the use of dies, occur on most dies (that see
a full life) and are not true errors. Some collectors refer to them as varieties
(if theyíre collected as such), while others tend to relegate them to the
status of "die markers" (when their primary purpose is as an aid in
the identification of another die variety of greater importance on the same
coin); still, others loosely refer to some of these variations as errors in
spite of an obvious conflict in logic. While some specialists may argue against
my position, I point out that all of these variations result in perfectly
acceptable coins that fall within the tolerances allowed by the Mints and are
not considered "errors" by the issuing authorities. If the Mints donít
consider them errors - how can we?

For the purpose of clarification, an error is due to mishap or
a breakdown in the process that falls outside of what is considered normal
operation (though it may occur frequently). If all tooling is maintained, is
gauged properly and the planchets are of proper specifications, it is normal for
planchets to feed into the collar in a centered position and be struck "on
center." If any part of the process breaks down, then misstrikes or errors
may occur.

A useful analogy that helps one understand the difference
between a variety and an error is in examining the aging process of a human
being. As living beings, we age; our skin wrinkles, our hair grays, our eyes
weaken, we develop aches and pains and eventually succumb to disease or a
failure of one or more of our organs, etc. These conditions are not the result
of accident or mishap but are normal to living life and aging. On the other
hand, if we fail to look both ways and walk in front of a car and get hit and
lose a leg, we've made a gigantic error!

There are of course some gray areas here and many unanswered
questions within my simplistic response to those who have been asking me about
the new "Delaware Errors." You will find the "error or
variety" debate, endless and at some point it is best to just pick a
position and become comfortable with it.

Unless otherwise stated, all Photographic Images
are by Ken Potter. Copyright Ken Potter, 1993 -
2017.
Use of images in any manner is strictly prohibited without the express written
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